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Written by Ecotivity
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 The
jewellery industry is one of the worlds most unethical and un-green
industries. Not only does the extraction
of gems ad precious metals such as gold scar the land from the results of
mining, but the array of chemicals used in the extraction of gold includes
cyanide and mercury that leave their own long lasting poisonous legacies on
individuals, communities and local wildlife.
What?s
more, many of the communities involved in the extraction stage of jewellery
production live in some of the world?s poorest nations where there is little
regulation of mines and where children as young as five years old often work. Where
a blind eye to the health and safety, unpleasant working conditions are also
dangerous conditions.
Although
several of the world?s top jewellery manufactures have pledged to ensure that
the mining companies produce gold in a more socially and environmentally
responsible way, there are several things you can do as a consumer to lessen
the negative impact of gold and jewellery production:
- Consumer pressure has a big
impact; always ask your jewellery shop where their gold and diamonds come
from and ask if they are produced in a way that has minimum impact on
people and the environment.
- Buy second-hand jewellery and
get a goldsmith or jewellery designer to reform it into a new design.
Links:
www.nodirtygold.org
www.globalwitness.org
www.blooddiamondaction.org
Tags: jewellry campaign gold pollution
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